April 27, 2010

Hughes Hubbard Adds Former White House Adviser to IP Practice

One day after adding former Greenberg Traurig partner Robert Shapiro to its litigation practice in Washington, Hughes Hubbard & Reed has brought on Jennifer Choe Groves to chair its international intellectual property rights and entertainment practice from D.C.

Groves joins Hughes Hubbard from the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, where she has spent the past five years serving as senior director of intellectual property and innovation. Groves also chaired the Special 301 Committee, an interagency body that analyzes the IP protection and enforcement policies for more than 90 countries.

In those roles, Groves also served on the White House staff under Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama. She helped to negotiate and implement the IP sections of multiple trade agreements, including the U.S. Free Trade Agreements with Bahrain, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Morocco, Jordan, Israel, Malaysia, Korea and Thailand.

Amanda DeBusk, who chairs the firm’s international trade practice, said in a statement that “Jennifer’s mastery of the intricacies of these issues will help us meet client expectations and the growing demand we are experiencing in this area.”

Groves was not immediately available for comment.

Yesterday, Hughes Hubbard announced that it had brought on Shapiro, who advises clients on regulatory and commercial claims involving the federal government, as a partner.